The first time we went to the pool there was basically Katie and a ginger kid myself and George. We played around and had fun, but we did wonder where all the other student kayak members are? The second session, as I mentioned in previous posts, had a couple more people Brian the president, Daniel, Michelle, the Tuesday lifeguard girl, and an old guy called Jim. We were told that Jim runs the club basically. Having old hands within a club helps bring about continuity and things often run more smoothly. Uni clubs have a fast turn-over and the captains/presidents are sometimes too young or inexperienced to cope with a large membership. At Leeds there is a gent who has been paddling with the club for more twelve years. Anyhow, the older member showing up was no surprise. George being lacking in confidence asked lots of questions to Jim about her roll etc. He seemed quite helpful to be honest.
We went again on the next Tuesday and then on Thursday. It really does break the week up - I'm in favour of that! A couple more older members showed up on the Thursday session namely Paul and Karen. Paul is a dentist. They were practicing rolling in Karen's new boat. Jim introduced us and told us that Paul was going to paddle the Huron (the local river) on Saturday. Jim sorted it so that we could go. Daniel and Michelle offered us a lift as we have no car. They also signed out club boats for us too. Daniel was keen to get on the river and this was the first trip of the year. The river was fairly frozen before this. Michelle meet Georgie on Friday and they went to the canoe shop to buy a couple of things. They seemed to get on well.
The river Huron is a grade I/II. It only really has one grade II really. However its good to get out. At the get in we met more older paddlers, Martin and Marissa? they seemed ok. Paul gave a safety talk and really talked the whole thing up. I heard this stuff lots but also know its not a good idea to appear uninterested. Georgie's nerves were shot however so safety talks probably didn't help her. We got on. To my amazement everyone but us did a roll at the top. I didn't have a dry top or a head cap so I thought better of it at this stage.
The river had nothing to speak of but I enjoyed it. Paul made me do some tail squirts which did actually boost my confidence a little. We all did a roll in moving water. I rescued Marissa in a slight unconventional way. She missed one or two rolls so I broke out to get her with an eskimo rescue. Trouble was she suck her hand up on the wrong side of the boat and she couldn't have much more air left in her lungs so I used my head and reached over with my hand and grab hers on the far side. I then pulled her someway up and then grabbed her boat. She was very greatful and slighty embarrised. George refused to get involved with the playing. She just wanted to get down safely- I tried to encourage her but only got negative responses. To be fair she did try when Paul told her what to do. Towards the bottom of the river an older guy called Rik caught our group up. The trip was pretty good in the end and we ccompleted our first US river.
We went again on the next Tuesday and then on Thursday. It really does break the week up - I'm in favour of that! A couple more older members showed up on the Thursday session namely Paul and Karen. Paul is a dentist. They were practicing rolling in Karen's new boat. Jim introduced us and told us that Paul was going to paddle the Huron (the local river) on Saturday. Jim sorted it so that we could go. Daniel and Michelle offered us a lift as we have no car. They also signed out club boats for us too. Daniel was keen to get on the river and this was the first trip of the year. The river was fairly frozen before this. Michelle meet Georgie on Friday and they went to the canoe shop to buy a couple of things. They seemed to get on well.
The river Huron is a grade I/II. It only really has one grade II really. However its good to get out. At the get in we met more older paddlers, Martin and Marissa? they seemed ok. Paul gave a safety talk and really talked the whole thing up. I heard this stuff lots but also know its not a good idea to appear uninterested. Georgie's nerves were shot however so safety talks probably didn't help her. We got on. To my amazement everyone but us did a roll at the top. I didn't have a dry top or a head cap so I thought better of it at this stage.
The river had nothing to speak of but I enjoyed it. Paul made me do some tail squirts which did actually boost my confidence a little. We all did a roll in moving water. I rescued Marissa in a slight unconventional way. She missed one or two rolls so I broke out to get her with an eskimo rescue. Trouble was she suck her hand up on the wrong side of the boat and she couldn't have much more air left in her lungs so I used my head and reached over with my hand and grab hers on the far side. I then pulled her someway up and then grabbed her boat. She was very greatful and slighty embarrised. George refused to get involved with the playing. She just wanted to get down safely- I tried to encourage her but only got negative responses. To be fair she did try when Paul told her what to do. Towards the bottom of the river an older guy called Rik caught our group up. The trip was pretty good in the end and we ccompleted our first US river.
2 comments:
I don't like all this "George is a wimp" talk!
Sorry, just setting the scene.
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